NACE 37 – Sewerage | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 37 covers the collection and treatment of wastewater — including the operation of sewer networks, wastewater treatment plants and the disposal of sewage sludge. Sewerage is a mandatory municipal task and therefore a continuous field of public procurement.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 37 cover?

NACE 37 (Sewerage) classifies companies and bodies that collect, transport, treat and dispose of wastewater — a key field of municipal public services and public infrastructure maintenance.

Public Tenders – Sewerage

Wastewater infrastructure requires ongoing investment in new construction and expansion as well as continuous operation and maintenance services:

• Construction and rehabilitation of sewer networks and special structures (stormwater overflow basins, pumping stations)
• Sewer cleaning and CCTV inspection (framework agreements for sewer maintenance)
• Construction and extension of wastewater treatment plants (biological stage, sludge dewatering, phosphorus elimination)
• Sewage sludge disposal and recovery (disposal framework agreements)
• Measurement, control and automation technology for wastewater treatment plants (SCADA, process control)
• Planning and engineering services (general planning, sewer network planning)

Relevant CPV codes

Contracting Authorities

• Municipal wastewater associations and treatment plant operators
• Municipalities and municipal utilities as providers of wastewater services
• Special-purpose wastewater associations (e.g. Abwasserverband Schwechat, Emschergenossenschaft)
• Federal states (Länder) for funded projects in rural areas (EU Cohesion Fund projects)

FAQ

Must sewerage contracts be tendered EU-wide? Above the threshold for works contracts (EUR 5,538,000) or for services (EUR 221,000 for classical contracting authorities), EU-wide publication on TED is required. Many treatment plant construction projects exceed the works threshold.

What should be considered when using subcontractors in sewerage works? Contracting authorities frequently require that sensitive key services (treatment plant operation, measurement and control technology) not be fully transferred to subcontractors. The permissible subcontracting share must be set out in the tender documents.

• NACE E – Water supply, sewerage, waste: Parent section
• NACE 36 – Water collection, treatment and supply: Drinking water supply
• NACE 38 – Waste management: Collection and treatment of waste

Last updated: January 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.